Dragon Bones (Red Princess 3)

“It was better that we all hear this together,” Zai responded evenly.

“Is there any proof that the thefts and the deaths are connected?” she asked.

“None,” Zai answered, “but you should assume they are. Again let me clarify, you are to investigate Brian McCarthy’s murder. If these other deaths also turn out to be murders, then you know your duty. Attorney Stark is to look into the thefts and—”

Perhaps finally understanding how closely she and David would need to work together, Hulan said to Zai, “It is not my place to make suggestions to the vice minister, but I still believe this case would be better served by someone else. Perhaps someone who is not so visible.”

Vice Minister Zai laughed good-naturedly. “One reason to send you to the Three Gorges is that there is no television reception there. They may be the only place in the country where today no one has seen your face.”

“Well, then,” Hulan backpedaled, “perhaps I should go alone. As you pointed out earlier, a threat has been made against me. Assign Investigator Lo to accompany me. There is no reason to put David in danger—”

“Investigator Lo will remain here to handle any requests for information you may need from the capital.” Zai turned to David. “Yes, there could be danger, but that is true in everything we do, isn’t that correct, Attorney Stark?” To Hulan, he said, “If you need additional help, you will find it in Bashan’s Public Security Bureau.”

He regarded David closely. “We await your decision and hope that you, too, will see the importance for your country in taking on this matter. Our two nations have had too many aggravations in recent years. Fortunately everything has returned to business as usual. But we don’t know what could happen the next time. It’s very important that you two prevent anything that could be humiliating to either of our countries.” Zai paused, then asked, “Attorney Stark?”

“I’d be honored to represent the bureau’s interests in this matter,” David said, though from the look on Hulan’s face he knew this was not the response she wanted to hear.

“Very well,” the vice minister said as he stood up. “Inspector Liu, I suggest you escort Director Ho to his car.”

Zai was once again asserting his position over Hulan, and she obeyed without question, leaving David and the vice minister alone. Zai took a sip of tea, then sat back in his chair and openly scrutinized David. At last he said, “When Director Ho asked for help, I thought of you for all of the reasons we have just discussed, but I have other considerations as well. You know I would not knowingly send you into jeopardy. Although I cannot anticipate what you will encounter, I trust that you will employ abilities that I did not mention to Director Ho. Our Hulan thinks and acts intuitively. She has a compulsion to put her physical body between herself and evil.”

This was true, David thought. It was as though she dared the guilty to punish her instead of the intended victim.

“We both know this method has not always worked well for her in the past,” Zai went on. “You, David, are so different. Physically you are much better equipped to handle danger than Hulan, yet you use your mind to deal with trouble. I don’t mean this as a criticism. You simply use logic and linear thinking to solve problems.”

This was true as well. David believed that civilization and culture rest on the conviction that logic will always win. Besides, lawyers are supposed to use their brains, not their fists, to deal with difficult and painful situations.

“She puts herself into danger. You think yourself through it. Together you have found a way to solve the most convoluted cases. But this is not why I am sending you.” The vice minister’s formality was replaced by the friendly tone of the person Hulan and David had dined with once a week until just a few months ago. “This is a good way for you and Hulan to be together—alone! This could be the last chance for the two of you.”

“Vice Minister, I don’t know—”

“Don’t speak, David. Just listen. The Three Gorges are one of the most beautiful places on earth. Enjoy the sights. Talk to each other. Have dinner by candlelight.” He clasped his hands together with something that approached conspiratorial glee. “To help things along, I had the two of you booked together in one cabin on a slow ferry.” He laughed then, truly pleased with himself. “You’ll know how to handle things from there.”

If Zai had been anyone else, David would have been infuriated by the intrusion into his private life. Still….

“Hulan may not appreciate what you have done—”

Zai’s laughter faded. “This is not just for Hulan. You have suffered too. She needs to understand that.”

David didn’t know how to respond.

After a moment, Zai said, “She loves you. She’s just forgotten how to show it.”

THE ENFEOFFED DOMAIN

(Hou Fu)

The domain of nobles extends 500 li from the Imperial Domain. This is home to high ministers, great officers, barons, and princes.

ALTHOUGH HULAN KNEW SHE WAS BEING MANIPULATED FOR reasons she didn’t fully understand, she could rationalize Zai’s motives for sending her and David to Bashan. David was perfect for the job. No one in China knew how to handle a situation like this more discreetly than he did. He’d be able to find the missing artifacts and protect the national and international reputation of the Cultural Relics Bureau if charges of corruption, theft, or bad labor practices came up. And Hulan had experience in dealing with both murder and foreigners. But why had Zai sent her deliberately out of the room to speak with David alone? When David got back to Hulan’s office, she asked what that conversation had been about, suspecting there was another political thread running through this situation that Zai hadn’t wanted to discuss with her.

A bemused look came over David’s face. He rubbed his forehead as he searched for an answer. She assumed it had to be bad. He tried to smile reassuringly, but it came across as an embarrassed grimace. “I’m not going to lie to you. Zai sees this as a romantic interlude for us,” he admitted at last. “A kind of second honeymoon.”

Hulan felt herself blush, and she suddenly didn’t know where to look. “I—”

“Don’t worry, Hulan.” David laughed, and she knew he was trying to defuse the awkwardness of the situation. She joined in his laughter, shaking her head. But when he added, “Nothing will happen unless you want it to,” she colored again.